Buick has experienced three years of consecutive sales declines in the United States and that trend will likely continue now that the LaCrosse has been phased out.
While it looks like a troubling time for the brand, there’s a lot of optimism for an usual reason. According Car Design News, GM’s sale of Opel and Vauxhall means that Buick designers finally have the freedom to give models a unique look that isn’t dictated by designers overseas. As a result, Buick’s executive design director Helen Emsley told the publication “This is a really important time for Buick.”
As part of this effort, the company is reportedly planning to launch a crossover coupe. Little is known about the model, but it is reportedly a four-door vehicle with a “sweeping coupe-like roofline.” It will reportedly be an all-new addition to the Buick lineup and not replace any existing model.
There’s no word on when the crossover coupe will arrive, but Buick has previously shown the stylish Enspire concept. Unveiled at Auto China last year, the Enspire was an electric crossover which featured a sporty front fascia, muscular rear haunches and a dynamic roofline that didn’t follow the trend pioneered by the BMW X6.
The site also says they were shown an animation and clay model of a so-called “orange car.” The publication couldn’t go into too much detail, but they described it as a “bold, aggressive inspiration model [which] would shock and surprise many, both inside and outside the industry.” They went on to say the car has a “purer, more sculptural design language” as well as a wide lower grille and thin headlights with “a wing shape at the outer edge.”
Also Read: Buick Enspire Concept Unveiled As An Electric Crossover With 550 HP
The orange car could be a sign of things to come, but Buick’s global director of exterior design, Bob Boniface, cautioned the model’s design language many not go past the mock up phase. Despite this, he suggested the styling of the car has become a “rallying point for us.”
Note: Buick Enspire concept pictured
H/T GM Authority
